Cutting machine



A. E. HUDSON. CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I9, 1920.

Patented Oct. 17, 1922.

2 sIIEETs-SHEEI l N .NN

A. E. HUDSON.

CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 19,1920.

Patented 0015.111922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented ct. 17, 1922.

lAldd narran stares Partnr ortica,

ALBERT E. HUDSON, 0F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE IVIACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

CUTTING MACHINE.

Application led July 19,1920.V Serial No. 397,346.

ToA cZZwzof/n it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. HUDsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain lmA proveinents in Cutting Machines, of which the following description, in connection with thefaccompanying drawings, is a specifica tion, like reference charactersonthe drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.l y

This invention relates to cutting machines and particularly to machines for cutting blanks from sheet material by the use of freely movable dies.

Machines for cutting blanks from fabrics and other sheet material of very considerable dimensions, and especially of large width dimensions, comprise characteristically a cutting block of a length several times greater than its width and for cooperation therewith either a presser member having a pressure applying surface practically co-extensive with that of the block or a pres^er member provided with a relatively small presser surface and movable laterally over the work supporting surface of the block toco-operate successively with various portions thereof. The type first mentioned 1s commonly so constructed that the presserl member, extending over all the cutting portions ofthe block, shuts out the light and restricts greatly the space within which the work must be` inspected and the die positioned preliminary to each cutting operation. lt is impossible under such conditions to posit-ion the die properly to obtain economical cutting of material even though the latter be uniform in surface coloring, in weight and in texture. And it is much more diflicult to secure evenfair results where the material is notuniform in the respects mentioned and where as a consequence the die should be positioned accurately and' after dueinspection of the work. Machines of the second type whereinthe presser member is mountedV for sliding movement length wise of the work supporting bed, have proved to be far from satisfactory, as here tofore constructed, deterioration being rapid and operation of the machines slow and laborious.

lt is an object ofhis invention to provide an improved machine for cutting sheet material which will be especially simple and durable in construction, efficient in operation, and free from the disadvantages which are inherent in prior constructions.

Important features of the invention are disclosed in a novel organization in which the space above the immediate field of operations is normally unobstructed so that there is no restriction upon inspection of the work and manipulation of the work and of the diespreliminary to cutting operations, in which an especially efficient and durable mounting for the movable presser member is providedat one side of the cutting block, and in which provision is made for moving the presser member lengthwise of the work supporting bed by power means of a new and improved type controllable with the minimum of effort on the part of the operator. While the illustrativemachine is particularly designed for operation on fabrics piled in a multiplicity of layers `and on sheet material of more than ordinary thickness and density, it will be under stood that various important features of the inventionv may have other and independent applications and uses.

These and other features of the invention, including various details of construction and combinations of parts, will be de scribed in the specification and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings z- Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of one illustrative embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is an end elevation partly in section of the machine shown in F ig. 1.

In the illustrative machine there is shown awork supporting table 4lwhich comprises a cutting block v6, the table being guided for vertical adjustment along guideways 8 provided in the frame 10 of the machine. Pfeferably, the table is supported upon screw threaded members 12 mounted in the base 1li and arrangedy to be operated simultaneously to raiseor lower the tablethrough a worm and gear mechanism 16, 18 which may be of any ordinary and well known construc. tion. A table or auxiliary work support 19 provides a support for the material Where vit may be conveniently reached by the operator. y For co-operation with the Worksuppoit Y the work preliminary to a succeeding pressure applying operation. Since, in the illustrative construction, the work supporting lbed has a very considerable area upon which the work may be supported and the presser member is provided with a relatively small pressure applying surface, the said presser member is movably supported so lthat it may be made to co-operate selectively with various areas ofthe work table. In certain operations, as for instance in cutting out blanks fromsheet material by means of freely movable dies, 1t is a matter of the greatest 1mportance to have suficient space for inspection of work on the table and for manipula-` tion of the work and of the dies in placing them on the material for successive cutting operations. Hence aV distinctive featureof the construction resides in the positioning ofthe supports and of the operating means for the presser member entirely at one side of the work supporting bed so that there is relatively unlimited space above the bed for the access of light to the work and for entire freedom of movement on the part of the operator. As shown, the support for the presser member 2O comprises two spaced 1- beams 22, 24 supported at their ends in the side members of the frame of the machine and extending longitudinally of the work table v4 in a plane above and at the rear thereof. Mounted on the -beams is a carriage 26 for the presser member, the said carriage having portions which partially embrace the I-beams in close slidable relation thereto, rollers 28 being preferably provided in the carriage and arranged to engage upwardly extending surfaces on the 1- beams to support thecarriage during movement therealong and at the same time to reduce the amount of friction between the carriage and its support. P'ivoted on a shaft 80 which `is supported at its ends lin the frame of the machine and which passes through the carriage is a lever 32 which supports and operates the presser member 20,

the latter beingpivoted to the former at 34. lt will be clear that upon rocking the lever 32 ytheipresser -member 2O will be carried toward and from the work supporting bed 6. Means is preferably provided for ensuring that the presser member moves in a vertical plane orl in other words that the pressure applying surface on the presser member is maintained in parallel relation with respect to the surface of the bed, the said means comprising, in theillustrative machine, a `link 36 or a pair of such links each pivoted to the presser member at 3e and to the lower portion of the carriage 26 at 40, the said links and llever constituting one embodiment of the well known parallel link construction for ensuring parallelism in the relative approaching movements of the presser member and work supporting bed. As above stated, the operating means for the presser member is also located at one side of the bed and is shown to comprise a beam or cross head 42 carried at the upper ends of pitmen 44 mounted at their lower ends upon eccentrics 46 upon the main shaft 4S. Means is provided for holding the cross head to a predetermined path of movement, that shown comprising links 50, one at each end of the machine pivoted upon the shaft 30 andjhaving theirother ends pivotally connected to the cross head42 upon pivots 52. Conveniently an operating connection is made between the lever 32 land the cross head 42 by providing a bfurcated portion 54 of the lever which -slidably embraces the cross head so v'that operative connection is maintained between these two members in whatever position the presser member may be located intermediate of the ends of the machine. y

For causing pressure applying operations of the presser member, the power pulley 56v preferably mounted onthe presser member in such manner as to be movable therewith so that the lever is accessible at whatever point the pressure applying operations are being performed along the work supporting bed. As shown, the hand lever 58 is pivoted at 60 on a bracket 62 mounted swivelly at 64 in a iianee 66 of the carriage 26. The far end 68 of the hand lever is forked to embrace a bar O'extending from one end of the machine frame to the other and mounted atitsends in links 72 pivoted at T4 in the end members of the machine frame. Since the bar passes through the carriage 26 the latter must be slotted to permit of an up and down movementof the bar relatively to the carriage. lExtending from one end of the bar is a link 76 which is pivotally connected at its other end to a lever 78 (Fig. 2) pivoted at 80 on a bracket 82 (Fig. 1) extending laterally from the machine frame, the lever 78 being in ,turn pivoted to a second lever 84 which controls the clutch mechanism on the mainshaft and which, as stated, may be `of any well known construction. lt will be clear from the description that the 'bar 70 extending from one end of the ma- 96 and 98 leading to corresponding operative connection between the manually controllable lever 58 and the said bar 70.

Means is preferably provided for moving the presser member longitudinally of the work supporting bed, the said means comprising, in the illustrative construction, a shaft 86 mounted in bearings in the end pieces of the machine frame and carrying at one end a double multiple disk clutch mechanism of a well known type, each clutch comprising spaced circular plates secured to the vshaft 86 and other similar plates rotatably mounted thereon and secured to the housingl 88 or 90, the plates of one setbeing arranged alternately with the plates of the other set and the construction being such that when the sleeve or housing 88 is shifted in one direction, the plates inside that housing are caused to engagev frictionally to drive the shaft 86 in one direction, while movement of the housing 90 in the opposite direction will cause the plates therein to engage each other and drive the shaft in the reverse direction. Mounted xedly on the housings 88 and 90 are pulley members 92 and 94 respectively around which pass belts or cables pulleys 100 and 102 integral with or securely attached tothe power pulley 56 which is continuously rotating. One of the belts, in the present case belt 98, is crossed interniediate its ends so that the pulley 94 driven thereby is turning in the opposite direction from the pulley 92 driven by the other belt 96. Normally the pulleys 92 and 94 vare continuously running on the shaft 86 without effecting anyv movement of the latter. lf, however, the clutch in the housing` 88 be actuated the shaft 86 is turned in one direction andis rotatable in the opposite direction when the clutch in 'the housing 90 is operated. pas shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 86 passes through the carrier 26 which Vis provided with al bearing for a beveled gear 104: keyed to the shaft 86 for sliding movement therealong and constantly in mesh with a second beveled gear 106 carried on a stud shaft 108 mounted in the carriage 26, the latter carrying at its opposite end a gear wheel 110 arranged constantly in mesh with a rack bar 112 secured to one of the I-beams, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings. It will be lclear that rotation of the shaft 86 will cause, through the train of gears described, movement ot the carriage 26 along the l-beams 22 and 24:. Means is provided for determining the length of time during which the shaft will rotate and the direction in which it rotates so that the presser member may be accurately positioned with respect to work on the work table. l Preferably, connections are made for this purpose to the same manually controllable member 58 which is utilized in initiating pressure applying operations by throwing in the clutch on the main shaft of the machine. The connections referred to comprise a bar 114 extending lengthwise of the machine the full length of the inside dimensions of the frame, and slightly beyond the frame at one of its ends (Fig. l), and supported at its ends by two links 116 pivoted at 118 in the machine fra-me. For operating the bar there is provided a bell crank lever 120 pivoted upon a bracket 122 extending from the carriage 26 and having bifurcated end 124.- to embrace the bar 114 and another bifurc-a'ted end 126 (Fig. l) to embrace the end 68 of the manually operable lever 58. .lt will be recalled that the lever 58 is pivoted toturn about a vertical axis 6111 and move- `ment of the lever about this axis will obviously operate the bell crank lever 120. The arrangement is preferably such that movement of the hand lever 58 in the direction in which it is desired that the presser member 20 should move will result in connecting up the proper clutch on the shaft 86 to drive the said shaft in the direction to rproduce movenient of the presser member in the direction that the hand lever 58 is moved. Thus movement of the hand lever to the left in F ig. l causesthe horizontal arm of the bell crank lever 120 to swing dowmvardly, thus moving the bar 11adownwardly and through the link 128 (F 1) attached to the end ot the bar 11-1- and the bell crank 180 operating the bell crank to move the yoke 182 to the right .in Figure l, thus causing the clutch in the housing 88 to become engaged whereby the pulley 92 drives the sliatt 86 in the direction carry the presser member toward the left in said ligure. lt, en the other hand, the manually operable lever 58 is moved to the right inlligure 1, the horizontal arm of the bell crank lever 120 is raised, thus carrying the operative end of the bar 11-1 upwardly and through the same link 128 causing movement of the yoke 132 to the lett in Fig. l with the result that the other pulley is clutched to the shaft 86 whereby the latter is driven in the opposite direction from that lirst described and thus the presser meml er is carried to the right. T'refeinbly springs or spring devices'ot any well known construction such as 'that shown at l-l are provided to hold the bar 11% in neutral position or, in other words. in an intermediate position in which neither clutch will be caused t-o operate to connect the shaft 86 to its source of power. lt will be Vclear that the operator determines the direction in which the presser member shall move simply by moving the Manually operable controlling member 58 in the desired direairtion and that the extent of movement of said presser member is determined also by the operator since the latter must maintain the clutch in operating relation by continued pressure on the hand lever 58v The operator soon becomes vexpert in handling the driving mechanism for the presser member so that he allows for the momentum oi the presser member in moving it toward operative position over the work onthe cutting bed. Then it is desired to stop the presser member the hand which has been moving with the presser member is cheeked, thus moving the controlled lever to neutral position, whereupon the presser member comes to rest Jrollowing a continued movement after the disconiiection of the power means due, as stated, -to the momentum. it will be understood, however, that the operator may control the presser member absolutely since the presser member can be checked by moving the eon` trolling lever in the opposite direction, thus throwing in the other clutch which acts as a'stopl device. Movements ot the presser member ycan be regulated to a nicety since the extent of the operation in any case depends upon the degree ot pressure and the time it is exerted by the operator on the hand lever lVhen the presser member has reached operative position the saine lever is depressed to cause a clutching ot the main shaft to the power pulley 5c, whereupon a pressure applyingoperation oit the presser member 20 taires place.

In the operation of the machine, work is placed upon the cutting block 6 and inspected as may be necessary and the cutting die positioned in the desired location. The work of inspection and ot manipulation of the die and of the material to be cut is performed under the most satisfactory conditions since there is no obstruction over the cutting bed to limit the space within 4which the manipulations must be carried on nor to obstruct the light. After the die is positioned the presser member 20 is moved under the control oi the operator to a position over the die and caused to apply pres-` sure thereon to force it through the work. lThe presser membervis then displaced to one side of the die as tar as may be necessary to permit ot reiriositioning of the die. lt is thought that the marked advantages oi the construction will be obvious without further discussion. fin addition the invention provides a presser member moving means which responds readily to the controlling` lever and the whole organization contributes to a very great degree to the efficiency and economy ot' cutting operations.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. ln a machine oiu the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member movable along the bed and also toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations, a stationary support for the presser member located at one side only of the bed, and operating` means for the presser memvber also at one side of the bed so that the presser member with its operating means,

to cause pressure applying operations of the presser member, and means for causing the presser member to move in a vertical direction toward and from said bed.

` 3. ln a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member movable along the bed and also toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations, a stationary support :for the pressery member located at one side only of the bed, operating means forl the presser member also at one side of the bed so that the space above the bed at the point of operations is.

normally unobstructed, and connections between the operating means and the presser member. I

l. ln a machine of the lclass described, a work supporting bed, a presser member movable along the bed and also toward and 'from the bed in pressure applying operations, ay support for the presser member located at one side of the bed, operating means for the presser member also located at one side oit the bed so that the space above the held of operations Vis normally unobstructed, a lever connecting the presser member with its operating means, and a linkv parallel with the lever for co-operation therewith in moving the presser member in a vertical direction toward and from said bed.

5. ln a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member for co-opeiation with the bed in pressure applying operations, a stationary support -or the presser member extending longitudinally of the bed at therear thereof and upon which the presser member is slidable in a direction lengthwise oi the bed, power means at one side of the bed l:tor operating the presser member and with which the presser member has a sliding connection, and manually operable means for controlling said power means.

6. ln a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, ay presser member for co-operation with the bed in pressure applying operations, a supportfor the presser member extending longitudinally of the bed at the rear thereof and upon which the presserL member is slidable in ya direction lengthwise oi the bed, power means com- 4llo prising a reciprocable cross head at one side of the bed for operating the presser member and with which the presser member has a sliding connection, and a manually eperable member for controlling said power means.

7. In a machine of the class described, a worlr supportingbed, a presser member for co-operation with the bed in pressure applying operations, a support for the presser member extending longitudinally 'of the bed at the rear thereof, comprising two spaced members providing a track and a carriage movable on said members and providing a support for the presser member whereby the latter may be positioned selectively over all portions of the bed, and operating means for the presser member located at one side of the bed.

8. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, two spaced l-beams located above and to the rear of the bed, a carriage slidable on the l-beams, a presser member mounted on the carriage in a position over said bed, a beam at one side of the bed in parallel relation with said -beams and reciprocable to cause operation of the presser member, a leverslidably connecting the presser member to the reciprocablebeam, and a link connecting the presser member with the carriage and co-operating with the lever to secure vertical movement of the presser member toward and from the work supporting bed.

9. In a machine of the class describedn a worlr supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pressure applying' operations, a support for the presser member located in a plane above the bed and extending longitudinally at one side thereof, power means for operating the presser member toward and from the bed, and power means comprising a raclr and pinion mechanism for moving the presser member along its support so that it may be positioned over any desired portion of the work on the bed.

10. In a machine of the class described, a worlr supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations, a support for the presser member located in a plane above the bed and extending longitudinally thereof, power means for operating the presser member toward and from the bed, a rack substantially of the same length as the support and arranged parallel therewith, a power shaft extending parallel with the rack, and

connections between the presser member, the rack and the power shaft and operable for moving the presser member along the support and lengthwise of the work supporting bed.

ll. In a machine of the class described, a worlr supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations, a support at one side of the bed extending lengthwise thereof, a

arriage mounted on the support for carrying the presser member in a direction lengthwise of tl e worlr shaft pa g through said carriage in parallel relation with said support, a rack bar extending parallel withl the shaft, connections between the shaft and the rack bar, and manually operable means for controlling said power shaft for causing movement the carriage and in tiie desired direction.

l2. In a machine of the class described, a worlr supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations, a support at one side of -the bed extending lengthwise thereof, a carriage mounted on the support for supporting the presser member and carrying it along over the bed. a beam at one side of the bed to which the presser member is slidably connected,` power means for reciprocating the beam to cause pressure applying operations of the presser member, power means for moving the carriage along said support, and a manually operable member :for controlling both said means.

13. In a machine of the class described, a worlr supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pressure applj-,fing operations, a support for the pr sser member extending lengthwise of the bed, power means comprising a shaft extending parallel with the support for moving the presser member alongl the bed, power means for causing pressure applying operations of the presser member, clutch mechanism on said shaft, and a manually operable member for controlling the last mentioned power means and also said clutch mechanism.

lll. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member movable toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations, a support for the presser member extending lengthwise of the bed and upon which the presser member is sli dable so as to co-operate with any desired portion of the bed, a power shaft extending parallel with the support, operating connections between said power shaft and the presser member to move the latter along the shaft, and a manually operable member movable with the presser member for controling said power shaft so that the presser member may be moved along the bed and in the desired direction at the will of the operator.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT E. HUDSON. 

